North Island Cinnamon Ale by North Island Beer

February 19, 2019

North Island Cinnamon Ale is a 6.5% spiced beer from North Island Beer, based in Hokkaido, Japan. It’s part of their winter seasonal lineup, and can be found in both bottles and on tap. North Island Cinnamon Ale is brewed using imported cinnamon but instead of East Kent Golding, Topaz hops are used in this 2018 version.

North Island Cinnamon Ale Aroma and Taste

North Island Cinnamon Ale poured out a limp dark hazy brown colour with barely any head on it at all. What little head there was clung to the side of the glass like its life depended on it. Unsurprisingly, North Island Cinnamon Ale had a distinct cinnamon aroma to it, but it wasn’t overpowering nor did it remind me of a Starbucks Christmas coffee. There was also a lingering sweet plummy aroma to it, with some hints of roasted nuts too.

Like the aroma, the body to North Island Cinnamon Ale reminded me of a Christmas pudding. Cinnamon interlaced with hints of plums and nuts, and a sweet dusting of sugar to it. There was no bitterness to the beer at all, so those with a sweet tooth would like North Island Cinnamon Ale a lot. It did get a bit cloying towards the end as it warmed up – there is only so much sweetness I can handle besides the malts – but the light body did go someway to offset it.

North Island Cinnamon Ale The Bottom Line

One bottle of North Island Cinnamon Ale is more than enough. It’s different enough to warrant trying but fairly sweet.